Richmond steel fabricators Liphart Steel Company will be recognized with AIA Virginia Honors at the Visions for Architecture gala on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at the Hotel John Marshall. AIA Virginia Honors may be bestowed on non-member individuals or organizations that have inspired, influenced, or complemented the architecture profession in Virginia through practice of an allied profession, research, education, planning, legislation, architectural writing, the arts, or crafts.
For nearly 80 years, Liphart Steel has served the architects of Virginia by bringing to realization their designs in both structural and ornamental iron and steel. Founded in Richmond in 1938, Liphart Steel has benefited from steady leadership. Its four chief executives each built on the reputation earned by his predecessors, recognizing the value of their relationships with design professionals, attention to detail, thorough execution, and fine craftsmanship. Thought to be the first company in Virginia to establish an employee stock ownership plan available to all employees, Liphart has been fully employee-owned since 1969. This desire to share the rewards of the company’s success has resulted in its ability to retain the experienced employees who have brought so many architects’ designs to fruition.
Among Liphart’s noteworthy Virginia projects are the historic train shed renovation of Richmond’s Main Street Station, which demanded attention be paid to replicating the historical look of the existing steel while meeting building code, program, and budget requirements. The Science Museum of Virginia’s new 18,000 square-foot Dewey-Gottwald Center accommodates more than 1,000 guests within its column-free event space that features a curvilinear, sweeping roof structure. And Virginia Tech’s indoor athletic facility is one of the largest of its kind in the nation at 91,000 square feet.
In addition to undertaking both challenging and unique structural steel work, Liphart Steel also has produced numerous ornamental and specialty iron products. Overall, the company’s ability to compete while maintaining its modest size has allowed the company’s estimators, detailers and fabricators to treat each project with the attention required to successfully complete its construction.